Address: Overton House, 133 High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4 2DJ
Website: berkhamsted.com
Founded: 1541
Pupils: 2,000, aged 3-18. Coed nursery and prep; separate girls’ and boys’ senior schools
Fees: £4,334-£16,391
Head Teacher: Richard Backhouse (principal), Karen O’Connor (nursery and prep), Jo Vila (girls’ school), Tom Hockedy (boys’ school)
Religious Affiliation: Church of England
Entrance Procedure: Selective
School Visits: Open events in spring and autumn, with individual visits available
Contact: admissions@berkhamstedschool.
The Curriculum
All pupils are supported and encouraged to reach their full potential, with appropriate teaching environments for each age group and a structure that offers the best of both co-educational and single-sex tuition. Up to 11 subjects may be taken for GCSE. In sixth form, courses are offered in 28 subjects alongside an enrichment programme, with the option to complete an EPQ. Pupils are prepared for university entrance, including Oxbridge. Careers guidance and personal tutoring are offered throughout.
Sport & The Arts
Key sports for girls are lacrosse, netball and tennis; for boys, rugby, football and cricket. Athletics, badminton, cross-country, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, shooting, squash and swimming are also pursued with team games and regional and national squads. The Duke of Edinburgh Award, CCF, community service and work experience are all offered alongside a wide range of clubs, societies and courses. Regular school theatre productions, orchestral and choral concerts achieve high standards of performance. The girls’ and boys’ schools come together for a range of these activities.
Pastoral Care
The main social and pastoral units are within the houses, with the head of house and house tutors providing support and advice while monitoring each individual pupil’s progress. The deputy heads, alongside the pupil wellbeing and personal development team, support teaching staff across the whole school in implementing a proactive strategy that focuses primarily on keeping pupils well and looking for early signs of potential issues. There is a medical centre with qualified staff, with a school medical officer who has special responsibility for boarders. Qualified counsellors are available to all pupils for confidential counselling.
Exit Destinations
In 2024, leavers secured places at some of the world’s leading universities, with eight students going on to Oxbridge. Other destinations included St Andrews, Imperial College London, Durham and Bath.
Head Teacher’s Philosophy
